Source: PSA
A new collective agreement covering more than 2,500 Te Whatu Ora Health NZ staff who are PSA members working in Policy, Advisory, Knowledge and Services (PAKS) roles has been ratified after an overwhelming positive vote.
The PAKS agreement covers those working in digital services, infrastructure, operations, communications, finance, people and capability, procurement, service design and planning, analytics and research, and policy.
“These workers perform vital roles that enable the public health system to keep delivering at a time when it is under significant strain from a lack of government funding, said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
The ratification was the result of 11 months of bargaining, including mediation and industrial action.
“As with the other health collectives ratified this year, the result for the PAKS workers is a testament to their resolve and resilience in the face of an unnecessarily protracted bargaining process and unrealistic initial offers,” Fitzsimons said.
“To break the impasse these workers went on strike, many for the first time, during the Mega Strike on 23 October 2025 as well as a further strike in November. This settlement is a result of these workers standing together to take collective action.”
Health workers covered by the collective will receive a pay increase of 2.5% effective 1 December 2025 with a further 2% from 7 December 2026. There is also an on-call allowance for IT-related employees and penal rates for workers required to work from Midnight on Friday to Midnight on Sunday.
Workers will each receive a $500 lump sum payment prorated for full time equivalent hours worked.
“While this ratification result is a step forward, major problems remain in our health system caused by the Government imposing job cuts on Health New Zealand and failing to fund our health system properly,” Fitzsimons said.
“The cutting of 940 roles from the Health NZ Digital Services team between November 2024 and April 2025, has created clinical and operational risks that impact patient care because of the critical role IT plays in all aspects of health care from operating theatres to referrals, clinical test results and payroll.
The PAKS settlement, like the other health collective settlements, is an improvement on what was initially offered but doesn’t contain everything we wanted,” said Fitzsimons.
“There is still a lot more work to do to improve working conditions in the public health system. The PSA will not stop fighting for the strong public healthcare system that both healthcare workers and everyday New Zealanders deserve.
“All political parties must commit to a properly funded public health system that ensures safe staffing levels, and delivers quality care for all New Zealanders, as well as pay equity for under-valued health workers,” Fitzsimons said.
The other significant health collectives ratified in February covered:
- More than 12,000 members working
- More than 3,500 members working
The PSA represents more than 27,000 workers employed by Health NZ.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
